Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 10-17-17

AUTHORBUZZ: Click here to discover new books,
"meet" the authors and enter to win.

Dear Reader,

When I asked today's guest author, Osheta Moore, to tell me a little bit about herself, here's what she said...

I am an Anabaptist-y, podcaster, blogger, doggie mommy, and mom to three kids ages 15, 12, 11. My husband is a pastor of a church and we're in the thick of moving our family from L.A. to Saint Paul. I believe everything is better after a nap, brunch with girlfriends is a necessity, and nothing beats a good Netflix binge. At the top of my bucket list is to dance in a flash mob--all the better if it's to Michael Jackson's Thriller or Pharrell's Happy. I'm the author of Shalom Sistas: Living Wholeheartedly in a Brokenhearted World and it's my love letter to every woman who wants to see peace in her everyday life but feels like she's not enough or has no idea where to begin.

Osheta has five copies of Shalom Sistas to give away to readers. You can connect with her at: oshetasshalom@gmail.com (please include a shipping address, when you enter the drawing.)

Thanks for visiting the book club, Osheta. Take it away...

Last week my husband and I attended a conference in Saint Paul where we knew we would have the chance to connect with friends and colleagues--many of whom we loved and respected.

In the weeks leading up to our trip, we talked about who we wanted to have a meal with or just sneak out into the foyer of the venue to catch up since we all knew what the keynote speaker was going to talk about, anyway. With every conversation about this appointment or that invitation, I noticed an anxiety fill me that, at first, I explained away as parental jitters, since we were leaving our fifteen year old alone for the first time (goodness, gracious me). But the more attention I paid to the tense ball of nerves churning in my gut, the more I realized it wasn't anxiety over leaving the kid or even meeting new people. I was growing aware of the potential to overextend myself during our trip if we agreed to all the lunches, coffees, and clandestine foyer meetings. If we put ourselves at the mercy of other's schedules and needs to connect with us, it was likely that I'd crash hard upon re-entry to our lives post-conference.

So, the day before the conference, as we boarded the plane, I turned to my husband and said, "Babes (I call him Babes, he calls me Babers), if it's ok, could we just take today to travel and settle into our hotel room before we have to be 'on' at the conference?"

At first he didn't understand, he tried to reason away my newly forming boundary. "Aren't you looking forward to seeing, so-and-so?" he started. When I said, yes, just once the conference officially started, my husband moved to reasoning with me "Well we've gotta eat anyway, why not get to know such-and-such?" again, I held my resolve, "I think I need the whole day to rest from travel so that I can be fully present at the conference" the moment I said this, the ball dissipated and I felt peaceful, once again. That boundary was necessary and good.

I think this is the case for so many things in our lives--even, and I would venture to say, especially good things--we want to fully throw ourselves into them--savor, enjoy, maximize the experience! But, we're not made for go, go, go! As much as our work gives purpose, and our relationships give us comfort, rest (and creating boundaries that make it possible for us to do so) gives a much needed pause. That pause is essential because in the quiet you can dream up the next big idea, in the stillness you can see where you need to go next, and in the solitude you are grateful anew for the people in your life.

--Osheta Moore
Email, say hello and enter for a chance to win a copy of "Shalom Sistas: Living Wholeheartedly in a Brokenhearted World." There are five copies waiting for readers. oshetasshalom@gmail.com

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ

NAKED WE CAME (Mystery) by Robert Lane

Buckle-up readers! My new title is a tour de force of mystery, humor and intrigue. Jake Travis is on the hunt for the man who abducted his older sister, and only sibling, over thirty years ago. His vengeful quest is blocked by powerful figures. As he seeks personal closure, Jake must decide whether he is truly free of his past.

Go to: AUTHORBUZZ click on NAKED WE CAME to read more and to email author Robert Lane, you'll get a reply.

Dear Reader Column 10-16-17

AUTHORBUZZ: Click here to discover new books,
"meet" the authors and enter to win.

Dear Reader,

Paul, my 10-year-old grandson, did something the other day that I've never done. I do a lot of baking, but I've never grabbed my apron and decided I was going to make up a cookie recipe as I went along. My first thought was his on-the-spot recipe might not turn out (okay, probably wouldn't turn out, I've had some real disasters in the kitchen even when I was following a tried and true recipe). But instead of giving my grandson the 'everybody needs to fail sometimes to succeed speech,' I simply mentioned, "If something doesn't turn out, just toss it out and try again. Don't worry and have fun."

Paul started rummaging through the cupboards, checking the types of chocolate I had on hand, did I have enough powdered sugar? and, "Grandma can I use the Raspberry Liqueur you have left over from the chocolate cake you made?"

Raspberry Liqueur? How would a 10-year-old boy remember Grandma using Raspberry Liqueur in a cake recipe a year ago? Because this boy remembers and notices everything. When he comes to visit, if something is missing from the room, or there's something new, even just an itty-bitty thing like a new dish towel, Paul will notice and comment on it.

Paul lined up his ingredients on the counter, and as he measured, he jotted down the amounts on a piece of paper. The only time he got a little nervous was when the cookies were in the oven. He kept checking frequently to see what they were doing, because since he made up the recipe, he was going to have to make up the baking time, too.

When the first pan came out of the oven they smelled like raspberry chocolate delights, but the baker informed me the cookies had to cool and harden a little bit, before he could take them off the pan. I was nervous. What if the cookies didn't taste good? I didn't want to see him disappointed, but as usual my worry was for nothing. The cookies tasted great!

So now we have a new chocolate cookie recipe in our family that the baker named himself--Paul's River Bottom Cookies. And Paul has given me an idea for a family activity this coming Thanksgiving--a baking contest. Everyone choose a partner and each twosome can invent their own dessert recipe.

I choose Paul.

See photos of Paul, get his new recipe, and enter the drawing for a cookie scoop, just like the one Paul and I use, click here.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com 

AUTHORBUZZ

EYES ON YOU (Fiction) by Laura Kaye

Twelve Masters, infinite fantasies. Welcome to Blasphemy...

I'm thrilled to share my new standalone romance about two people desiring nothing more than to be accepted for who they really are. Wolf Henrikson is my hottest Dom yet, and Liv Foster is so fearless I can't help but admire her. Together, they're incendiary! I hope you'll grab your copy and lose yourself between the sheets--I mean pages!

Go to: AUTHORBUZZ click on EYES ON YOU to read more and to email author Laura Kaye, you'll get a reply.

Dear Reader Column 10-13-17

AUTHORBUZZ: Click here to discover new books,
"meet" the authors and enter to win.

KIDSBUZZ: Click here to discover new books,
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Dear Reader,

I have a list and I have plans. I feel good about myself when I'm busy, but some days, like today, I have no choice but to stop the busyness. Because my body says, "No."

Good stress, bad stress, it makes no difference. I have days like this because of my eye disorder, Benign Essential Blepharospasm (BEB). Too much stress is debilitating and if I keep pushing, eventually my body says, "That's it!" My eyes shut down and the rest of my body does, too.

I'm thankful for the built-in reminder that life is more than a to-do list. Well, the truth is I only get to the "thankful" part, after putting up a good fight. But eventually I listen to what my body is trying to tell me. "In order to enjoy the busyness of life, Suzanne, every now and then we need to take a rest."

Allowing myself to rest and do nothing is a difficult lesson for me to learn. Hard work got gold stars when I was growing up. Work hard and you'll be rewarded. But the truth is after I work hard, I find great rewards in resting. The creative part of me recharges and I'm excited about the busyness of life again.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

* Congratulations to the winners of Lady Jayne Disappears by Guest Author Joanna Davidson Politano: Sandy J. and Nancy R.

KIDS BUZZ: A great lesson in patience and gardening, Alan C. Fox's BENJI & THE 24 POUND BANANA SQUASH, for preschool and elementary kids, "offers a child's particular experience of 'garden to table' and may inspire other youngsters to try the same. Gratifying." (Kirkus). For a chance to win a free copy and learn more, see KIDSBUZZ.

Dear Reader Column 10-12-17

AUTHORBUZZ: Click here to discover new books,
"meet" the authors and enter to win.

KIDSBUZZ: Click here to discover new books,
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Dear Reader,

I'm not a patient person when I'm in a group. Part of me feels bad about that, but the other part of me doesn't really care. Basically, I try to avoid getting involved in any sort of committee that has to make a group decision. Works for me.

But I realize that avoidance isn't always a plausible solution. Other people work just fine in groups. So why can't I?

Understanding a problem is one of the first steps to solving it. So, let me see... Why is it that, whenever I have to function in a group, it drives me nuts? It irritates the heck out of me, and I feel like I want to run out of the room screaming, "Are you people insane?"

For starters, there's this "you-have-to-reach-a-consensus" thing. In the time that it takes me to get people to see "it" my way (gee--no control issues here!), I could have finished the project myself--and, I might add, done a great job, too.

People strategically divide in groups. No one acknowledges it, but there's always one group of people who are rooting for the project to work, and they're committed to making it happen. And then there's that "other" group--the people who will do their darndest to sabotage any idea the group decides to try to implement.

In the past, my strategy for getting along in groups has been to cheerfully agree to a number of small points. I figured if I acquiesced to 10 small items on the agenda, the group would cut me some slack on the 11th hour issue--the one most important to me. But never assume--because everything is up for discussion in a group.

In fact, I'm convinced that "discussion" is the group's most powerful secret weapon. If you discuss something long enough, there will be group member casualties. Sheer boredom will take out a few members. A desperate need for a bathroom break will always get at least one person to vote "yes" when he'd rather say "no." Malnutrition fosters group cooperation, too (the promise of lunch "if" we can reach a consensus). And finally there are members like me who get so sick and tired of rehashing, slicing and dicing the same thing over and over (and over) again that they'll agree to anything just to get out of the room before they scream, "Are you people insane?"

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: With so many new books out every week, we promise these titles deserve your attention:

(Fiction)
THE LABYRINTH WALL by Emilyann Girdner

(Fiction)
THE KING by Skye Warren

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader Column 10-11-17

AUTHORBUZZ: Click here to discover new books,
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KIDSBUZZ: Click here to discover new books,
"meet" the authors and enter to win.

Dear Reader,

"Hi Suzanne,

I've been reading along with you for years in several of the book club selections, as I read across many genres. I read with you for years when we still lived in Lubbock, and have read with you for the five years we've lived in Fort Worth.

I read with you while my husband fought prostate cancer in Lubbock and while I fought melanoma here in Fort Worth.

I've read with you since he was diagnosed at the beginning of the summer with terminal small cell lung cancer and now as he's on hospice and nearing the end. I can't always keep up and some days I only read what you write, but you always bring a smile to my face (and those are hard come by some days) and make me think a lot of days, as well as remind me that even when my life seems hard, I have much to be thankful for. That's a lesson my very wise mama taught me, she'd say 'When you think life is unfair or hard, you look around, you can always find someone else so much worse off than you.' And you know what? She was right, I always can. I've yet to meet anyone else I'd want to swap troubles with, even in the worst of things. Thirteen years ago we took care of her as she left this world from a different type of lung cancer.

We're far too well acquainted with cancer in our family. Far too well.

Anyway. I think people complain way too much and never ever say thank you enough, so from my heart to yours, thank you. Thank for way more than providing just a good read. Thank you for the friendship you offer, and thank you for the comfort you give and may not even realize."

Best, Kay M.

(Suzanne replies)

Dear Kay,

You probably still lived in Lubbock, Texas when I was there visiting the library. Lubbock was one of the first libraries to offer the book clubs. I remember my visit well. I had rented a car and was driving around Texas, presenting the book clubs to library staffs, and I spent the night in Lubbock. I visited the Buddy Holly Center while I was there. Your email has brought back a memory I hadn't thought about for a long time.

I am so very, very sorry to hear about your husband. The cancer in your family has been overwhelming to say the least. Your loving mama's words, "When you think life is unfair or hard, you look around, you can always find someone else so much worse off than you," Yes, I agree she is right. But I'm amazed at your loving, thoughtful spirit, and how you're able to think of others in the midst of such sadness. The email you sent to me is a precious gift.

Thank you for reading with me all these years. It's my honor to be reading with someone like you.

My thoughts and prayers are with you,

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

KIDS BUZZ: A great lesson in patience and gardening, Alan C. Fox's BENJI & THE 24 POUND BANANA SQUASH, for preschool and elementary kids, "offers a child's particular experience of 'garden to table' and may inspire other youngsters to try the same. Gratifying." (Kirkus). For a chance to win a free copy and learn more, see KIDSBUZZ.

Dear Reader Column 10-10-17

AUTHORBUZZ: Click here to discover new books,
"meet" the authors and enter to win.

KIDSBUZZ: Click here to discover new books,
"meet" the authors and enter to win.

Dear Reader,

Let's get right to reading author Zoe Whittall's guest column today, and after that I'll tell you more about her.

Like a lot of writers, I've often been the kind of person more comfortable on the sidelines of adventure, taking careful notes, as others live their brave lives. When I was fifteen my two best friends skipped class to venture downtown and get tattoos--this seemed incredibly risky to me. I followed them to the shop because I was enamoured with their bravery, and like a true novelist, liked to study them as characters. In the early 1990s, most teenagers didn't have tattoos, perhaps a few were pierced, but my friends were the first girls to venture down to a sketchy parlour and pick a drawing off the wall. I wanted one, but I was too scared of the pain, and though I wouldn't have admitted it, I was also afraid of what my mother might say. When my friends unveiled their smudged dragons proudly, I felt a pang of regret. (Later I was grateful that I didn't, because I wanted to get something too unspeakably embarrassing to mention even 25 years later.)

But eventually, at 21, my roommate decided she wanted a tattoo, and would I come along and get one too? It's true I was the only one in our friend group without so much as a tiny heart. Though I was still terrified of the pain, my first tattoo was the word Passion in a typewriter font on my left shoulder. The pain wasn't bad at all. At 21, my favourite novel was The Passion by Jeanette Winterson. I carried a tattered paperback copy of the book everywhere I went. (This wasn't difficult, in the late 90s pants were very big, with very roomy pockets that could accommodate several paperbacks.) I felt brave leaving the shop, happy to have finally faced the fear.

Later I covered up that tattoo with an illustrated bird, to join the cluster of animals on my arm, the bunny, owl, deer, and flowers - symbols of meaningful relationships, memorials for friends who have passed on, or illustrations I found appealing. (The bunny, for example, is just very cute and looks great on a chubby arm.)

After publishing three volumes of poetry and three novels, I've learned that the best writing doesn't emerge from careful observation alone. Taking a risk can really help us dive into the texts we are wrestling with and find those beautiful and authentic sensory details that can't come from hiding out and being afraid of the world that we're trying to make sense of. One day my tattoos might look silly on an old lady, but I'll wear them proudly.

--Zoe Whittall
Please do say hello, go to: http://zoewhittall.com/contact/

More About Today's Author:

Zoe Whittall's third literary novel, The Best Kind of People, was shortlisted for the Giller Prize and selected as Indigo's Best Book of the year. It has been optioned for feature film by Sarah Polley.

Her second novel, Holding Still for as Long as Possible, won a Lambda literary award and was an American Library Association Stonewall Honor Book. Her debut novel, Bottle Rocket Hearts, was named one of the top ten essential novels of the decade by CBC Canada Reads.

Zoe has published three volumes of poetry, most recently Precordial Thump. She lives in Toronto where she occasionally writes for The Baroness Von Sketch Show and other TV shows.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ

THE KING (Fiction) by Skye Warren

I'm thrilled to share with you my dark modern drama about a girl from the trailer park and the son of a criminal king. They don't belong together, but they're caught in a dangerous game.

Go to: AUTHORBUZZ click on THE KING to read more and to email author Skye Warren, you'll get a reply.

Dear Reader Column 10-9-17

AUTHORBUZZ: Click here to discover new books,
"meet" the authors and enter to win.

KIDSBUZZ: Click here to discover new books,
"meet" the authors and enter to win.

Dear Reader,

Today is the last day to enter this year's Write a DearReader Contest. You still have time, but there's no time to waste. So sit down and start writing right now. Tomorrow will be too late.

Tell me a story about something that's important to you, or a memory that always brings you joy, or maybe a dream you have for yourself. The story is inside of you and I'm waiting to read it.

You don't have to consider yourself a writer. I started the contest 13 years ago especially for people who aren't writers. On many of the entries I've been reading, there's a note at the end saying, "Even if I don't win, this has been a magical experience."

The information about the contest is here.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Warmest regards,

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

P. S.  I've been baking. The lucky Chocolate Chip Cookie winners are Romy K. (Grapevine Public Library), Tracy G. and Tasha L. (Media Specialist, Newsome High School).

AUTHORBUZZ

THE LABYRINTH WALL (Fiction) by Emilyann Girdner

Do you love magical labyrinths? Did you ever wonder what life might be like on the inside? Araina is shocked when or the first time she witnesses an outsider come into her dark labyrinth home... Questions abound as she begins to learn the world is bigger than she ever realized. Will you be able to solve the mysteries of the labyrinth world before Araina?

Go to AUTHORBUZZ click on THE LABYRINTH WALL to read more and to email author Emilyann Girdner, you'll get a reply.

Dear Reader Column 10-6-17

AUTHORBUZZ: Click here to discover new books,
"meet" the authors and enter to win.

KIDSBUZZ: Click here to discover new books,
"meet" the authors and enter to win.

Dear Reader,

What's the most important thing to you? Don't think about your answer. What's the first thing that popped into your mind? That's the story you should write about. Write what you know and you'll have fun doing it.

If you haven't entered this year's Write a DearReader Contest yet, you only have until Monday to email your entry to me. Do something different. Be spontaneous. Give of yourself and share your story. I'm excited to read it.

So what's the most important thing to you? I'm waiting for you to tell me all about it.

Thanks so much for sharing. And of course...

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Warmest regards,

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

You'll find all the info you need for the Write a DearReader contest here.

KIDS BUZZ: Compelling new reads for kids: inspire young creators with the story of one of the world's most famous painters and paintings, VINCENT CAN'T SLEEP by Barb Rosentock; and if you know a middle-grader interested in dog sledding, falconry or adventure and survival stories, take a peek at SLED DOG SCHOOL and FALCON WILD by Terry Johnson. For a chance to win a free copy of these fabulous books and learn more, see KIDSBUZZ.

Dear Reader Column 10-5-17

AUTHORBUZZ: Click here to discover new books,
"meet" the authors and enter to win.

KIDSBUZZ: Click here to discover new books,
"meet" the authors and enter to win.

Dear Reader,

Evelyn Majerski was born on August 19, 1925 and died on September 12, 2017. I didn't know Evelyn, but after reading her obituary in the local newspaper, I felt like I did. I wished I would have had the chance to know Evelyn, because I could tell from reading her obit and seeing her photo, she was the kind of person who radiates kindness. Evelyn would have inspired me and filled me up with joy and hope, when I was running on empty.

It's true. Some people fill you up with good vibes and good energy, so you're able to head on out into the world again, and not be dragged down into the muck. Your "battery" gets charged when you spend time with people like Evelyn. I'm sure she had her share of problems and personal faults, like everyone does, but I think along Evelyn's life journey she choose to react differently than most.

An obituary is only a few paragraphs. How do you sum up how someone lived their life, in Evelyn's case, 92 years on this earth? The last line her family wrote in her obituary says it very nicely...

"Evelyn is survived by her loving family who suggest that friends perform an act of kindness in her memory."

Obviously Evelyn passed on the gift of love and kindness to her family--and to me--a complete stranger. That's the kind of legacy I hope to leave behind.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Anyone can enter the writing contest. Don't be shy if you aren't a writer. I started the contest thirteen years ago, especially for people who've never written. So give it a go this year. The rules, cash prizes and last year's winning entries, you'll find all the info here.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: With so many new books out every week, we promise this title deserves your attention:

(Fiction)
HUNTED: An Eternal Guardians Novella by Elisabeth Naughton

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader Column 10-4-17

AUTHORBUZZ: Click here to discover new books,
"meet" the authors and enter to win.

KIDSBUZZ: Click here to discover new books,
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Dear Reader,

"Two Broke Boys Who Bake" (Paul and James, my two grandsons) are a hit whenever they set up shop in front of our house on a Saturday morning. The first time 10 year old Paul asked about doing a bake sale, he said he wanted to sell chocolate chip cookies and pumpkin bread. (That boy loves pumpkin bread and makes it from scratch almost every time he comes over to our house.) The pumpkin bread tastes great, but I told Paul I didn't think it would be as big of a hit as chocolate chip cookies--but Grandma was wrong--way wrong! Paul handed out samples of pumpkin bread and it sold out before the chocolate chip cookies. My grandson has even added his own touch to the presentation of his pumpkin bread, by pouring chocolate over the top and letting it drizzle over the sides of some of the loaves. People love them.

Paul's recipe is perfect to set the stage for Fall. (It really does taste divine.) Enjoy!

Pumpkin Bread with Pumpkin Whipped Cream

3 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
1 16-ounce can of pumpkin
3 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
2/3 cup warm water (105 to 115 F)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter two large loaf pans or 4 small ones.

Beat sugar, oil, eggs, and pumpkin in large bowl. Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, allspice, cinnamon and nutmeg into another large bowl. Stir into pumpkin mixture. Slowly mix in 2/3 cup warm water.

Divide batter equally between pans. Bake until golden brown and toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about one hour for two loaves and 40 minutes for four loaves.

Cool for 10 minutes in pan then run knife around edges of breads. Turn breads out onto racks and cool completely.

Pumpkin Whipped Cream

You can add the pumpkin whipped cream when you serve it, or just add a dollop of regular whipped cream.

1 cup chilled whipping cream
3 T sugar
1/2 cup pumpkin

Beat cream and sugar to stiff peaks. Fold in 1/2 cup pumpkin. Store in refrigerator.

The deadline is approaching--October 9th! Be sure to get your entry finished and submitted on time. You'll find all the info, including last year's winning entries. I'm waiting to read your entry, click here.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

KIDS BUZZ: Compelling new reads for kids: inspire young creators with the story of one of the world's most famous painters and paintings, VINCENT CAN'T SLEEP by Barb Rosentock; and if you know a middle-grader interested in dog sledding, falconry or adventure and survival stories, take a peek at SLED DOG SCHOOL and FALCON WILD by Terry Johnson. For a chance to win a free copy of these fabulous books and learn more, see KIDSBUZZ.